Indian Mujahideen terrorist wanted in 5 bomb blast cases arrested

"Khan was involved in many bombing incidents including 2008 Delhi serial blasts, 165 people died in incidents he was involved in", Pramod Singh Kushwaha, DCP, Special Cell Delhi Police. Police said Khan was arrested from Uttarakhand's Banbasa where he had gone to meet an associate.

"Khan was present along with other terrorists in Batla House and had managed to escape along with an accomplice during the encounter", the officer said.

Khan was wanted by the Delhi Police in connection with serial blasts in September 2008 in the national capital in which about 30 people were killed and over 100 injured. Ariz Khan alias Junaid is believed to be one of those who had escaped during the 2008 Batla House encounter.

Junaid, reports claim, is accused of being involved in the spree of terror attacks carried out by the Indian Mujahideen in 2008.

Khan belongs to the Uttar Pradesh, Azamgarh.

According to the police, Special Cell was working on the leads gathered from the interrogation of the earlier arrested terrorists with links to the Indian Mujahideen (IM) and other terrorist outfits, as well as the inputs provided by several secret sources deployed across the country. They parted ways after which Khan came in contact with his uncle, living in Nepal, who helped him procure a fake Nepal citizenship card and passport. During his stay in Nepal, he initially ran a restaurant and later on started teaching in different schools, the officer said. "In March, 2017, he came back to Nepal from Saudi Arabia and clandestinely visited India to revive the IM", he said. "We have managed to nip in the bud efforts to revive these terrorist organisations", he said.

"For a cover, he worked as a labourer and also met with many sympathizers there", Mr Kushwah said.